Interestingly, the same words, with the same regional differences, are also used to describe those chilly little breezes that leak from around poorly sealed windows and doors, and which your mother warned you will cause you to catch cold.
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mickeyfNov 14 '11 at 14:47

2 Answers
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Americans usually spell it draft - here's the chart for American-only usage...

Brits usually use draught - here's their usage chart...

EDIT - Apologies for including yet another chart, but even though they really are just alternative spellings, predominantly associated with the US/UK divide, I find this American-only usage chart for draft/draught of ale particularly interesting...

I assume Americans see ale as an old-fashioned Britsh word, so they slip into "mock-archaic" spelling (similar to Ye Olde Tea Shoppe ). I'll refrain from adding another chart, but conversely even Brits preferworking draft over working draught, because this is a much more recent "set phrase" primarily associated with Americans.

You should do the graphs separately for the American an British versions. I feel sorry for all the non-AmBrits.
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MitchNov 14 '11 at 14:47

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@Mitch: One day, NGrams will offer choices like "Australian only", though as of today I don't think even their US/UK division is particularly accurate. But it's good enough to prove how indebted US orthography is to Noah Webster!
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FumbleFingersNov 14 '11 at 14:56

It's weird that the usage is so 'bouncy'. Looking at simply the stand-alone word draught/draft, it looks like 'draft' wins in British, too, but that doesn't accord with my experience ('draught' stands out to me as particularly British, never seen in the US). Is 'draft' used in contexts other than nautical in British writing?
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MitchNov 14 '11 at 15:03

There's also the problem of 'dra[unvoiced labiodental fricative]t' distinguishing: pouring beer, a change to coolness in indoors air, a first version, and rounding up soldiers.
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MitchNov 14 '11 at 15:15